ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENTS SBIG Operating Manual CCD Camera Models ST-7XE/XME, ST-8XE, ST-9XE, ST-10XE/XME and ST-2000XM/XCM With High Speed USB Interface Santa Barbara Instrument Group 147A Castilian Drive Santa Barbara, CA 93117 Phone (805) 571-7244 · Fax (805) 571-1147 Web: · Email: Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: · · · · Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. Increase the separation between the receiver and the equipment. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Shielded I/O cables must be used when operating this equipment. You are also warned, that any changes to this certified device will void your legal right to operate it. OPERATION Manual for ST-XE/ST-8XE/ST-9XE/ST-10XE/ST-10XME/ST-2000XM Revision 1.4 June, 2004 Section 1 - Introduction 1. 1.1. 1.2. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 3 Getting Started.................................................................................................................. 4 Installing the USB Drivers for the First Time............................................................... 4 1.2.1. Installing the CCDOps and the Driver Checker ...................................... 5 1.2.2.1. Add New Hardware Wizard for Windows XP Users ............................. 6 1.2.2.2. Add New Hardware Wizard for Window 95/98/Me Users ............... 13 1.2.2.3. Add New Hardware Wizard for Windows 2000 Users ........................ 18 1.2.3. Getting Started with CCDOPS ....................................................................................... 22 1.2.4. To try some functions with sample images:................................................................. 22 1.2.5. Capturing Images with the CCD Camera .................................................................... 22 2. 2.1. 2.2. 2.3. 2.4. Introduction to CCD Cameras .................................................................................... 25 Cameras in General ....................................................................................................... 25 How CCD Detectors Work ........................................................................................... 25 2.2.1. Full Frame and Frame Transfer / Interline CCDs ................................. 26 Camera Hardware Architecture .................................................................................. 26 CCD Special Requirements........................................................................................... 29 2.4.1. Cooling......................................................................................................... 29 2.4.2. Double Correlated Sampling Readout .................................................... 30 2.4.3. Dark Frames ................................................................................................ 30 2.4.4. Flat Field Images......................................................................................... 30 2.4.5. Pixels vs. Film Grains................................................................................. 31 2.4.6. Guiding ........................................................................................................ 32 Electronic Imaging ......................................................................................................... 32 Black and White vs. Color............................................................................................. 33 At the Telescope with a CCD Camera....................................................................... 35 Step by Step with a CCD Camera ................................................................................ 35 Attaching the Camera to the Telescope ...................................................................... 35 Establishing a Communications Link ......................................................................... 36 Focusing the CCD Camera ........................................................................................... 36 Finding and Centering the Object ............................................................................... 38 Taking an Image............................................................................................................. 38 Displaying the Image .................................................................................................... 38 Processing the Image ..................................................................................................... 39 Advanced Capabilities .................................................................................................. 39 3.9.1. Crosshairs Mode (Photometry and Astrometry) ................................... 39 3.9.2. Sub-Frame Readout in Focus .................................................................... 39 3.9.3. Track and Accumulate............................................................................... 40 3.9.4. Autoguiding and Self Guiding ................................................................. 40 3.9.5. Auto Grab .................................................................................................... 41 3.9.6. Color Imaging ............................................................................................. 41 Camera Hardware ......................................................................................................... 43 System Components ...................................................................................................... 43 Connecting the Power ................................................................................................... 43 Connecting to the Computer ........................................................................................ 43 Connecting the Relay Port to the Telescope............................................................... 43 2.5. 2.6. 3. 3.1. 3.2. 3.3. 3.4. 3.5. 3.6. 3.7. 3.8. 3.9. 4. 4.1. 4.2. 4.3. 4.4. Page 1 Section 1 - Introduction 4.4.1 Using Mechanical Relays............................................................................... 44 Modular Family of CCD Cameras............................................................................... 46 Connecting accessories to the Camera........................................................................ 50 Battery Operation........................................................................................................... 51 Advanced Imaging Techniques ................................................................................. 53 Lunar and Planetary Imaging ...................................................................................... 53 Deep Sky Imaging.......................................................................................................... 53 Terrestrial Imaging ........................................................................................................ 53 Taking a Good Flat Field............................................................................................... 54 Building a Library of Dark Frames.............................................................................. 54 Changing the Camera Resolution................................................................................ 54 Flat Fielding Track and Accumulate Images ............................................................. 55 Tracking Functions ........................................................................................................ 56 Accessories for your CCD Camera............................................................................. 59 Water Cooling................................................................................................................. 59 Tri-color Imaging ........................................................................................................... 60 Camera Lens Adapters and Eyepiece Projection....................................................... 60 Focal Reducers................................................................................................................ 60 AO-7 and Lucy-Richardson Software ......................................................................... 60 SGS - Self-Guided Spectrograph .................................................................................. 60 Third Party Products and Services .............................................................................. 61 6.7.1. Windows Software ..................................................................................... 61 6.7.2. Image Processing Software ....................................................................... 61 6.7.3. Getting Hardcopy....................................................................................... 61 SBIG Technical Support ................................................................................................ 61 Common Problems ....................................................................................................... 63 Glossary .......................................................................................................................... 65 Appendix A - Connector and Cables......................................................................... 69 Connector Pinouts for the AO7/CFW8/SCOPE port:.............................................. 69 Connector Pinouts for the power jack:........................................................................ 69 Connector Pinouts for the I2C AUX port:................................................................... 69 SBIG Tracking Interface Cable (TIC-78)...................................................................... 70 Appendix B - Maintenance.......................................................................................... 71 Cleaning the CCD and the Window ........................................................................... 71 Regenerating the Desiccant .......................................................................................... 71 Appendix C - Capturing a Good Flat Field .............................................................. 72 Technique ........................................................................................................................ 72 Appendix D - Use and Maintenance of the Cooling Booster ............................... 73 Appendix E ­ Third Party Vendors Supporting SBIG Products.......................... 75 4.5. 4.6 4.7 5. 5.1. 5.2. 5.3. 5.4. 5.5. 5.6. 5.7. 5.8. 6. 6.1. 6.2. 6.3. 6.4. 6.5. 6.6. 6.7. 6.8. 7. 8. A. A.1. A.2. A.3. A.4. B. B.1. B.2. C. C.1. D. E. Page 2 Section 1 - Introduction 1. Introduction Congratulations and thank you for buying one of Santa Barbara Instrument Group's CCD cameras. The model ST-7XE/XME, ST-8XE, ST-9XE, ST-10XE/XME, and ST-2000XM/XCM are SBIG's fifth generation CCD cameras and represent the state of the art in CCD camera systems with their low noise and advanced capabilities, including Kodak's new Blue Enhanced E series of CCDs and high speed USB interface. We feel that these cameras will expand your astronomy experience by being able to easily take images like the ones you've seen in books and magazines, of structure never seen through the eyepiece. SBIG CCD cameras offer convenience, high sensitivity, and advanced image processing techniques that film just can't match. While CCDs will probably never replace film in its large format, CCDs allow a wide range of scientific measurements and have established a whole new field of amateur astronomy that is growing by leaps and bounds. These cameras include several exciting new features: improved self-guiding (US Patent 5,525,793), high speed USB interface, improved cooling design and more. These cameras have two CCDs inside, one for guiding and a large one for imaging. The low noise of the read out electronics virtually guarantees that a usable guide star will be within the field of the guidin ...